Lawmakers to consider funding for redistricting commission

A proposal to provide Arizona’s nearly broke redistricting commission with more money gets its first legislative hearing Tuesday.

At stake is whether the commission will be able to keep operating past mid-March and be able to defend and explain its new congressional and legislative district maps as they’re considered by federal voting-rights enforcers.

If the maps don’t pass the federal reviews, the state’s election calendar could be thrown into turmoil.

The commission has requested a supplemental appropriation of $1.1 million, but the bill to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday doesn’t yet specify an amount.

Amid Republican politicians’ criticism of the commission and its maps, the Senate last year supported Gov. Jan Brewer’s failed attempt to remove the commission’s chair. The state Supreme Court reinstated Colleen Mathis.